Bill Text - SB281 (2012)

(New Title) relative to exposure to infectious disease by emergency response and public safety workers and notification of public health authorities.


Revision: March 7, 2012, midnight

SB 281 – AS INTRODUCED

2012 SESSION

12-2805 08/01

SENATE BILL 281

AN ACT authorizing law enforcement officers to share relevant communicable disease information with public health authorities.

SPONSORS: Sen. Rausch, Dist 19; Sen. Lambert, Dist 13; Rep. Reagan, Rock 1

COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services

ANALYSIS

This bill authorizes law enforcement officers to share relevant communicable disease information with public health authorities.

This bill is a request of the department of safety.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

12-2805

08/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve

AN ACT authorizing law enforcement officers to share relevant communicable disease information with public health authorities.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Paragraph; Law Enforcement; Knowledge of Communicable Diseases. Amend RSA 141-C:7 by inserting after paragraph I the following new paragraph:

I-a. A law enforcement officer of this state, who in the line of duty, becomes aware of information relating to a person who is suspected of having an infectious disease which has the potential of significantly impairing the health, safety, and welfare of the public shall share the relevant information with the appropriate state and local health authorities if it is in the best interest of the public, including to protect any person who has a medical need to know the information for his or her own protection. Upon receiving information from a law enforcement officer in accordance with this section, the state or local health authorities shall contact any person who has a medical need to know the information for his or her own protection, in accordance with rules adopted by the department pursuant to RSA 541-A. No law enforcement officer shall be held liable for reporting as required under this section and shall have immunity from civil or criminal liability for any act performed in the fulfillment of the duties imposed by this section.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2013.